What's Happening | Saturday, July 8 through 12

Items for the Community Calendar may be emailed to jill.ritchie@examiner.net or mailed to: The Examiner, 410 S. Liberty St., Independence, MO 64050, attention Jill Ritchie. Also, check the calendar online at examiner.net.

SATURDAY, JULY 8

• Antique and Craft Fair, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Bingham-Waggoner Estate, 313 W. Pacific Ave., Independence. More than 100 antique dealers and crafters will be offering collectibles and original crafts. You may purchase Polish sausages, hot dogs, hamburgers, “walking tacos,” kettle corn, lemonade and homemade cookies. There will be a prize drawing every hour. The Spirit of Independence Community Band will play at noon. Fair admission is free. Tour the Mansion between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. for a fee. For questions, call 461-3491.

• Water Garden Society of Greater Kansas City self-directed water garden – There will be 44 ponds on tour. Tickets are $10 per person for ages 14 and older, and can be purchased at garden centers throughout the community, as well as Hen House, Westlake Hardware and Grass Pads in the Kansas City area. You may also pick up tickets locally at Brother’s Fish and Pets, Kansas City; Colonial Nursery, Blue Springs; Randy’s Lakeview Nursery, Lee’s Summit; and the Wild Bird Center, Independence. For groups, bus tours and other locations to purchase tickets, visit us at www.kcwatergardens.com.

• Independence Farmers & Craft Market, 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. through October, located just south of the Independence Square at the northwest corner Walnut and Liberty streets. Spend $1 of your SNAP benefits and receive $2 to spend on produce.

• Blue Springs Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to noon through October, located at 11th and Main streets in downtown Blue Springs.

• Lee's Summit Farmers Market, 7 a.m. until sold out through November, located at Second and Douglas streets.

• American Legion Dance, 7 to 10:30 p.m.; doors open at 5:30 p.m., American Legion Post 21, 16701 E. U.S. 40, Independence. Music by The Reddymen Band. Food, beverages, and snacks available. Admission, $7. Open to the public. 373-0221.

• Discover Nature Fishing, for families, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center, 1401 N.W. Park Road, Blue Springs. This is a great time of year to take your family fishing. We will teach some fishing basics, provide equipment and worms and then let you practice your new fishing skills. Kids who attend will be entered in a drawing at the end of the summer for a new fishing pole and tackle box. Lessons 1 and 2 of the Discover Nature Fishing program are included in this class. Free, but registration is required, call 228-3766.

• Cooking Wild: Catfish, for adults, 1 to 3 p.m., Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center, 1401 N.W. Park Road, Blue Springs. Celebrate summer by cooking one of our most tasty and bountiful fish, the catfish! Catfish are found nearly everywhere in Missouri. They can grow large and are fun to catch. Join us as we learn how to catch, clean and cook these whiskered fish. Free, but registration is required, call 228-3766.

• Stable T. Farms Petting Zoo, for all ages, 2 p.m., North Independence Branch of Mid-Continent Public Library, 317 W. U.S. 24. Bring the whole family to see these fun farm animals, and let the little ones pet rabbits, goats, and more. Presented by Stable T. Farms, this two-hour program ensures that every family, from those who are first in line to those who are fashionably late, spends quality time with their favorite farm friend. Free, but registration is required, call 252-0950.

• Water Garden Society of Greater Kansas City self-directed water garden – There will be 44 ponds on tour. Tickets are $10 per person for ages 14 and older, and can be purchased at garden centers throughout the community, as well as Hen House, Westlake Hardware and Grass Pads in the Kansas City area. You may also pick up tickets locally at Brother’s Fish and Pets, Kansas City; Colonial Nursery, Blue Springs; Randy’s Lakeview Nursery, Lee’s Summit; and the Wild Bird Center, Independence. For groups, bus tours and other locations to purchase tickets, visit us at www.kcwatergardens.com.

• Learn to square dance, 2 p.m., in Independence. Free lessons will be offered for ages 8 and older. Have fun and meet new friends. Couples, families and singles welcome. Call Brad and Annette Davis at 254-5305 for information.

JULY 10

• Medicare Explained in Plain English, 7 p.m., South Independence Branch of Mid-Continent Public Library, 13700 E. 35th St. Get a straightforward and easy-to-understand explanation of Medicare and the benefits you may be entitled to receive. Designed for Medicare newbies, this program is especially helpful for those turning 65. Free, but registration is required, call 461-2050.

• Teens at the Library, 7 p.m., Blue Springs South Branch of Mid-Continent Public Library, 2220 S. Missouri 7. July 10. It’s your time to hang at the Library. Discover what we’ve planned just for you.

• Popsicles in the Park, 6:30 to 8 p.m., George Owens Nature Park, 1601 Speck Road, Independence. The kids will enjoy their free frozen treats, while the parents are entertained by a performance. Free.

• Blue Springs Connections to its Early History, for adults, 6:30 p.m., Blue Springs South Branch of Mid-Continent Public Library, 2220 S. Missouri 7. Rhoda Harris settled with her husband, William, in the Blue Springs area in 1832. Re-enactor Barbara Hughes portrays this courageous and remarkable woman in a vignette highlighting her life. Free, but registration is required, call 229-3571.

• Independence Farmers & Craft Market, 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. through October, located just south of the Independence Square at the northwest corner Walnut and Liberty streets. Spend $1 of your SNAP benefits and receive $2 to spend on produce.

• Getting to Know Our New Catalog: Searching, for adults, 2 p.m., North Independence Branch of Mid-Continent Public Library, 317 W. U.S. 24. Need help using the new online catalog? Come learn about all of the new features the library has added to help you access the books and other materials you need. Free, but registration is required, call 252-0950.

• Beginning Word, for adults, 2 p.m., South Independence Branch of Mid-Continent Public Library, 13700 E. 35th St. This introduction will focus on how to create, save, and print a document using Microsoft Word. Free, but registration is required, call 461-2050.

• The Giving Tree: How Trees Help Build a Better World, for ages 4 and older, 10 a.m., Colbern Road Branch of Mid-Continent Public Library, 1000 N.E. Colbern Road, Lee's Summit. Discover how one tree built a better world for one little boy at this special reading of Shel Silverstein’s classic story, and learn how trees make a difference in our world every day. Free, but registration is required, call 525-9924.

• Public Skate, Silverstein Eye Centers Arena, 19100 E. Valley View Pkwy., Independence. Public sessions are open to skaters of all ages and skill levels. These sessions take place at various times and are usually two hours long. Cost, $5; $3 for 12 and under and 55 and older, non-residents add $1 to each price. Skate rental, $2. For times, call the Skating Hotline: 795-7577.